Peters



JAMES H. HOLLINGSWORTH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

I Letters Patent No. 86,157, dated .humm/,26, 1869; antedated .Ta-num 11, 1869.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the lame.

To all whom it may fcomzern:

Be it known that I, JAMES H. HOLLINGSWORTH, of the city of Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and improved Folding Fruit-Box; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a. part of this specification, in which- I Figure 1 is a perspective view of my fruitfbox when extended. A

Figure 2 is a side viewwhen folded.

Figure 3 is an end view when folded.

The object of my invention is to provide a folding box for the purpose of shipping fruits or commodities to market, and after the contents of the sameare removed, the box can be folded up in a small space and returned to the shippers, at a small expenditure for freight.

The arrangement of the box is such that access is had to the contents, without destroying or breaking it apart, and it can be used any number of times.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation.

The sides A and By of my box consist of four uprights, V, V', V2, and V3, of any length, secured to which is a series of slats placed a short distance apart. The said sides are connected together at the ends by ineans of iron straps I, Il, I2, and I3, hinged in the centre.

The ends C and D of the box are made of slats of the same size as the sides, with the ends secured to cross-pieces P, P1, P2, and P5.

The top, E, and bottom, F, are similar in construction, with the exception that the cross-pieces to which the slats are secured are placed `a short distance from the ends of the slats. The ends of the centre slats, forming the bottom, F, project out and rest on the iron straps Il and I3.

When desired, a partition can be placed across the lcentre of the box, the uprights V P being secured to the sides of A and B on the inside, into which the vpartition slides.

In arranging the box to receive fruits or other oommodities, the sides Aand B are extended out to the length of the iron straps I, I, I2, and I3, and the ends G and D inserted, so that the pieces P, P, P2and P3, t between the upiights V, V', Vl, and V3, This keeps the sides A and B extended.

The bottom, F, is now inserted, the ends ofthe two outer slats being formed so as to t closely against the lower part of pieces P, P, P2, and P3, and thus" preventing the'ends of the box from being forced inward at these points.

'Ihe two outer slats of the top, E, are out in-a similar manner to outer slats of bottom, F, and thus securing the upper part of the pieces P, P, P2, and P3, in proper place.

One edge of the top, E, may be held in place by means of cleatsior pins placed at the upper part of the uprigbts 'V and Vl, or V2 and V3, as desired, the opposite edge being secured to the sides A or B by means of straps, hooks, ropes, or any other contrivance which may be easily adjusted.

In folding the box, the top, E, and bottom, F, and the ends C and D, are removed. v The sides A and B are then drawn together, and will assume the position as shown in figs. 2 and 3. Owing tothe thickness of the uprights V, V, V2, and V3, a space is left between the slats of the sides, into which the ends-G and D are inserted. The top, E, and bottom, F, are placed against and on the outside of the sides A and B, and are fastened by means of ropes or straps. In this position the box occupiesA very little space, and is readily handled.

Having thus described my invention, its construction, and operation,

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The arrangement of the sides A and B, ends G and D, top, E, andv bottom, F, in combination with the hinged iron straps I, I, I, and I3, in the manner and for the purpose specified.

JAMES H. HOLLINGSWORTH.

Witnesses:

CHARLES H. EVANS, ISAAC R. GAKFORD. 

